metal in my drain pan

[paulv]

Ive changed my oil for the third time now. My truck Has 5000 miles on it. after I dumped the oil from the drain pan into a waste bucket, I see tiny metal flakes in the bottom of my drain pan. Is this a big concern? The engine runs and sound good.

 

[Jared4.7]

Could always call the dealer and/or have a used-oil analysis done.

Blackstone Labs

 

[Ona4day]

Why have you changed your oil so often? With modern oil and vehicles, their computers should have you change the oil between 5k and 8k. Anything else is just wasting resources. I'm at 45% life and 4700 miles.

 

[HLram]

I always change my oil in new vehicles at least a couple times before 5000 miles. Usually at about 1500 the first time and maybe 3500 the next. I do it to get rid of any metal from the break-in. Hills and valleys rubbing together. I do understand that this MAY not be necessary in a newer engine, but I still do it just in case. The OP may be the same?

 

[Saltillo Express]

pauly you got a pic of the plug with the flakes? It's not uncommon with a new motor, unless it's excessive.

 

[WhiteExpress]

My first oil change looked like metallic paint, but really fine fine flakes.
Perfectly normal according to Blackstone and the couple mechanics I talked to.

I've been sending in every other oil change to Blackstone, awaiting my results for my 35k change. I think you've got nothing to worry about but trying to keep tires under it!

 

[paulv]

Why have you changed your oil so often? With modern oil and vehicles, their computers should have you change the oil between 5k and 8k. Anything else is just wasting resources. I'm at 45% life and 4700 miles.

I changed the oil because the first two weeks I owned the truck , it made ticking noise ( loud ). so I changed the oil- problem went away- but I saw metal in the oil. So I decided to change it again in January @ 1700 miles- oil seemed to be clearing up- Now I changed it again to see, and found more metal. It does look very fine like metallic-a paint. I just didn't think it should be there. I took the drain pan to the dealer where they documented my concern today but also said they could not do anything until there was a failure somewhere.( I expected that ) the flakes are not magnetic so im hoping flushing fresh oil will take care of this.I love my truck, i just don't want loss of oil pressure someday unexpectedly.

 

[WhiteExpress]

very fine looking metallic paint sounds about right from my experience.
I panicked on the first oil change in my '12 Mustang GT from this same thing.

 

[Burla]

You don't need a UOA on that, you already know you have wear metals and excessive ones. Explain what you mean you see metal in your pan. I assume you mean drain pan? Make sure you do not use synthetic oil at this point. Run conventional oil a couple more times and do not put any additives in. I would change my oil in the 3k mile range and use the dealer everytime. Make a stink is it continues, they can drop the oil pan and clean it. Once the problem resolves itself, get an oil with high molybdenum content, but not necessarily a moly additive. You may have wear metals that are not coming out with the oil and are stuck to the pan, which means it may be a while to get them out. Nothing to worry too much about at this point, but use don't do anything to screw with your warranty in case it becomes something big.

On second thought, dont take it to the dealer for the change. if you do you wont see if there is metal there. Just do home oil changes and keep receipts and records.

 

[paulv]

You don't need a UOA on that, you already know you have wear metals and excessive ones. Explain what you mean you see metal in your pan. I assume you mean drain pan? Make sure you do not use synthetic oil at this point. Run conventional oil a couple more times and do not put any additives in. I would change my oil in the 3k mile range and use the dealer everytime. Make a stink is it continues, they can drop the oil pan and clean it. Once the problem resolves itself, get an oil with high molybdenum content, but not necessarily a moly additive. You may have wear metals that are not coming out with the oil and are stuck to the pan, which means it may be a while to get them out. Nothing to worry too much about at this point, but use don't do anything to screw with your warranty in case it becomes something big.

On second thought, dont take it to the dealer for the change. if you do you wont see if there is metal there. Just do home oil changes and keep receipts and records.

Yes the subject debris lay in the bottom of the oil drain pan after I dumped the majority into a waste drum. Silver in color and non-magnetic indicating probable aluminum. I have used Mobil One Synthetic on all three oil changes with Mobil One Filters. You think I should dump the synthetic and go with conventional? That's not a problem for me but I am curious as to why. And at this point I just want a clean pan when I change my oil. So how often should I dump it? 500 - 1000 miles for awhile? Thanks for the input....

 

[Strange Ram]

If I am not mistaken, isn't the factory oil semi synthetic?

 

[Burla]

Synthetic oils have better additive packages and are better at reducing friction. You need a break in oil which encourages friction, or lets the metal soften up all the sharp edges. A conventional oil with low Moly would be good, or any break in oil that uses elements to knock off the sharp edges and once that occurs, metal wear should become a minimum unless your tolerances are off, and if that was the case it would show up anyway sooner rather then later. Anyhow, no proof that your truck is a lemon at all, get the sharp edges out, and drop the oil pan, and everything should be hunky dorry.

 

[paulv]

Well,,, I now have 10500 miles on my 12 ram. I have had 3 oil analysis done at 6000,8700, and 10300 mile, all show elevated copper levels at 27,38,48 respectively, iron at 7,10,14. test lab says these numbers are normal as the engine is still breaking in..... I don't buy it, but that is what they reported. I have given the report to my dealership and they said they would contact Chrysler and see if they had documentation for oil samples on file,,,no reply as of yet. My evic display shows my oil pressure @ 20 when the oil temp is over 190ish degrees at idle. While driving at cruising speeds it is 51ish. I don't know what others are seeing for oil pressure, but I hope my idling number don't go any lower.

 

[Burla]

Are you still changing it yourself? any shavings at all in the filter or oil? If it were me, I would get some break in conventional oil, then look at some group 5 maybe after a short run of reg conventional to flush it. I sent in a oil analysis on a new engine, only 8500 miles, and I will post the results as soon as they come in. Check the synthetic thread in a couple weeks just so you can compare if you like.

 

[paulv]

There isn't any visible metal in my oil filters, but when the drain pan is emptied you can see copper or brass colored flakes,, very very tiny stuff but enough that it cant be ignored . Also if anyone can check their oil pressure when the engine is hot like after some highway driving to see what the evic displays when the truck is at idle I would greatly appreciate it. mine gets down to 19-20 psi after its gets nice and hot.

 

[NYCruiser]

I changed the oil because the first two weeks I owned the truck , it made ticking noise ( loud ). so I changed the oil- problem went away- but I saw metal in the oil. So I decided to change it again in January @ 1700 miles- oil seemed to be clearing up- Now I changed it again to see, and found more metal. It does look very fine like metallic-a paint. I just didn't think it should be there. I took the drain pan to the dealer where they documented my concern today but also said they could not do anything until there was a failure somewhere.( I expected that ) the flakes are not magnetic so im hoping flushing fresh oil will take care of this.I love my truck, i just don't want loss of oil pressure someday unexpectedly.

So it must be aluminum wearing. Like from the heads.

 

[Burla]

I have a newer Ram 8500ish miles and had elevated Copper wear as well, much higher then yours x3. UOA is printed over on synthetic oil thread.

uoa high copper

 

[NYCruiser]

What's made of copper in these engines?

 

[rustydagger]

My oil pressure at 1500 rpm going down the highway is 55, 23 at idle. Both after it reaches operating temperature.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

[smiley]

Sounds very normal nothing to worry about.


$miley